IT CONTAINS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT PARTS OF PRESCRIPTION AND ITS IMPORTANCE WITH HANDLING OF PRESCRIPTION AND ERRORS IN PRESCRIPTION.

1. THE PRESCRIPTION-
PARTS, HANDLING AND
ERRORS IN
PRESCRIPTION
BY-MS.NAINA DUBEY
ASSO.PROF(SIPS)
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2. THE PRESCRIPTION
 Definition: - Aprescriptionis a written order froma registeredmedicinalpractitioner
topharmacistto compoundinganddispensesaspecificmedicationfor thepatient.
 The prescriptions are generally written in the English language but Latin words or
abbreviationsare frequentlyusedinordertosavetime.
PARTS OF A PRESCRIPTION
1.Date
2.Name,age,sexandaddressofthe patient
3.Superscription
4.Inscription
5.Subscription
6.Signa.Orsignatura
7.Renewal instruction
8. Signature,addressandregistrationnumberofthe prescriber.
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3. 1.Date: - It helps a pharmacist to find out the date of prescribing and date of
prescriptionfor fillingthe prescription.
 The prescription which prescribe narcotic or other habit forming drug, must bear
the date, so as to avoid the misuse of prescription if it is presented by the patient,
anumberoftimesfor dispensing.
2.Name, age, sex and address of the patient: - Must be written in the prescription
becauseit servestoidentify theprescription.
 In case, if any of this information is missing in the prescription, the same maybe
includedbythe pharmacistafterproperenquiryfromthepatient.
 Alsousedindosecalculationof children.
3.Superscription:- It is represented by Rxsymbol. It is Latin word. It means you take.
In older days, the symbol was considered to be originated from the sign of Jupiter,
god of healing. This symbol was employed by the ancient in requesting god for the
quickrecoveryofthe patient.
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4. 4.Inscription: - This is the main part of the prescription order, contains the names and
quantitiesofthe prescribedingredients.
 The name of each ingredient is written on a separate line along with its
quantity.
 Incomplexprescriptionindividedintofollowing parts…
i. Base: - the active medicaments which are intended to produced the
therapeutic effect.
ii. Adjuvant: - it is included either to enhance the action of medicament or to
improvethe palatabilityofthe preparation.
iii. Vehicle: - it is included in the prescription either to dissolve the solid
ingredientsorto increasethevolumeofthepreparation.
 Nowadays, the majority of the drugs are prescribed which are already in a suitable
formulation.
 The pharmacist is required to dispense the readymade from of drugs. So,
compoundingof prescriptionis almosteliminated.
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5. 5.Subscription: - This comprises direction to the pharmacist for preparing the prescription
andnumber ofdosestobedispensed.
6.SignaturaorSigna:-Thisconsistsofthedirectiontobe giventothepatientregardingthe
administrationof drug.
 The instructions given in the prescription are required to be transferred to the
container in which the medicamentis to be dispensed, so that the patient canfollow
it.Theinstructionmay include:
i.Thequantitytobetakenoramounttobe used.
ii. Thefrequencyandtimingofadministrationor application.
iii. Therouteofadministration.
iv. Thespecialinstructionsuchasdilution direction.
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6. 7.Renewal instruction: - The prescriber indicate on every prescription order, whether it
mayberenewedandif so,howmanytimes.
 It is very important particularly in the prescription containing the narcotic and
habitformingdrugsto preventits misuse.
8.Signature,addressandregistrationnumberoftheprescriber:-Theprescriptionmustbear
thesignatureoftheprescriberalongwithitsregistrationnumberand address.
 It is very important particularly in the prescription containing the narcotic and
habitformingdrugsto preventits misuse.
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8. HANDLING OF PRESCRIPTION
The following procedure should be adopted by the pharmacist while
handlingtheprescriptionfor compoundinganddispensing:-
1.Receiving
2.Readingand checking
3.Collectingandweightingthe materials
4.Compounding,labelingandpackaging
1. Receiving: - The prescription should be revised from the patient by the
pharmacist himself. While receiving a prescription, a pharmacist should not
changehis facial expressionwhichgivesanimpressiontothe patientthat heis
surprisedorconfusedafterseeingthe prescription.
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9. 2.Readingandchecking:- on receiving a prescription, alwayscheckit that it is written
inproper format.
 A prescription should always be screened behind the counter. In case of any
doubtregardingthe prescriptioningredientsor directions, the pharmacistshould
consulttheotherpharmacistor prescriber.
3.Collecting and weighing the material: - before compounding the prescription, all the
materials requiredfor it, shouldbecollectedonthelefthandside ofthebalance.
 After weighing the material it should be shifted to right hand side of the balance.
Thisgivesacheck ofingredientswhichhavebeenweighed.While compounding
the label of every stock bottle should be read at least 3times in order avoid any
error.
i. Whentakenfromtheshelfor drawer.
ii. Whenthecontentsremovedfor weighingand measuring.
iii. Whenthecontainersarereturnedbacktoits properplace.
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10. 4.Compounding, labeling and packaging: - compounding should be carried out in a
neat place. All the equipment etc... Required should be thoroughly cleaned and
dried.Only1prescriptionshouldbe compoundedatonetime.
 The compounded medicament should be filled in suitable containers
dependingonitsquantityand use.
 The filled containers are suitable labeled. White plain paper of good quality
shouldbeusedfor labelingthe container.
 The container is polished so as to remove the figure prints. While delivering
the prescription to the patient, the pharmacist should explain the mode of
administration,directionfor use,and storage.
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11. SOURCES OF ERROR IN PRESCRIPTION
1.Abbreviation:-
Abbreviationpresentsaprobleminunderstanding partsoftheprescriptionorder.
Extreme care should be taken by a pharmacist in interpreting the Abbreviation.
Pharmacistsshouldnot guessatthemeaningofanambiguousAbbreviation.
E.g-AS- AspirinandAscorbicacid
2.Nameofthedrug:-
Thereare certaindrugs whosenamelookor sound like thoseof otherdrugs. Someof
theexampleofsuch drugsis asunder:-
DigitoxinandDigoxin,
PrednisoneandPrednisolone
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12. 3.Strengthofpreparation:-
Thestrengthofthepreparationshouldbestatedby theprescriber.It is essentialwhen
variousstrengthsof aproductareavailablein market.
4.Dosageformofthedrugprescribed:-
Manymedicinesareavailableinmorethanone dosageformlikeasliquid,tablet,
capsule, etc...
5.Dose:-
Unusually high or low doses should be discussed with the prescriber. Pediatric
dosage may present. So pharmacist should consult pediatric posology to avoid an
error.
Sometimeareasonabledoseis administeredtoo frequently.
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13. 6.Instructionsforthepatient:-
The instructions for the patient which are given in the prescription are incomplete or
omitted.
The quantity of the drug to be taken, the frequent and timing of administration and
route of administration should be clearly given in the prescription so as to avoid any
confusion.
7.Incompatibilities:-
It is essential to check that there are no pharmaceutical or therapeutic
incompatibilities in a prescribed preparation and that different medicines
prescribed for the samepatient do not interact with eachotherto produceanyharm
topatient.
Certain antibiotics should not be given with meals since it significantly decrease the
absorptionofthe drug.
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14. THANK YOU
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